Blackbirds find a way to win despite key injuries

The 38-and-over Blackbirds have won two games and lost four in the Tucson Mens Senior Baseball League, but if  last night's 12-8 victory over the Reds at Reid Park  is any indication, look for them to move up in the MSBL Mountain Division standings in the coming weeks. Last night, the Blackbirds jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the Reds scored five in the bottom of the inning and looked like they were going to take control of the game. And to make matters worse, the Blackbirds' starting pitcher Sean Flynn came up with a hamstring pull in the second inning and  had to be replaced by Hector Iglecias. Instead of folding up, the Blackbirds fought back. They scored 10 more runs in the middle innings as everyone in the lineup chipped in and when the Reds came to bat in the bottom of the seventh inning, for their final at bat, the Blackbirds had a four-run lead and needed just three outs to win their second game of the season. Iglecias coaxed the Reds' batters to go quietly as hard hit ground balls to third-sacker Allen Gillespie, shortstop Sean Rollins and second baseman Danny Price resulted in a 1-2-3 inning. The Blackbirds started the game without two starters in the lineup. Dave Delk and Rich Rochon are nursing injuries, causing manager Robin Badart to change the lineup around, but to the Blackbirds credit they still didn't fold and found a way to win. Iglecias, who leads the league in hits with 14, went 4 for 5 last night, while first baseman Tom Bolen knocked in three runs and is now second on the club with six RBI. Badart leads the Blackbirds in runs batted in with eight. The Mountain A's are the only undefeated team in the division. The Blackbirds are in seventh place and take on the winless D'backs next Thursday at Reid Park.

Price Watch: My son, Michael, went 1 for 3 last night and knocked in a run. He also walked once. Yours truly went 1 for 3, walked once and scored twice.


The Tucson MSBL Mountain Division (Wood Bat) standings:

Team          W      L

 A's              5      0 


Yankees       4     1

Phillies          4     1 

Braves          3    2 

Beantown
Bombers      2.5  2.5

Reds            2.5  3.5 

Blackbirds    2    4

RedSox        1    4 

Dbacks        0    6